Desperate Chesterfield homeless man 'jumped in front of moving car'

Craig Brewer, 22, jumped into the road in Mason Way, Newbold, on December 14 but effectively walked away from the collision, after causing £672 worth of damage to the Vauxhall car, Chesterfield Magistrates’ Court was told on Tuesday, March 3.

Prosecuting, Becky Allsop said: “The driver of the vehicle describes seeing the man in the road and another male shouting for him to come away. He then stepped back onto the pavement, but as they got alongside each other he jumped onto the vehicle.

“He performed a star jump and the driver said he gave him a wide berth as he passed, so he must have jumped about three feet.

“The driver stopped and the defendant said to him, ‘Sorry mate, I didn’t mean it’. When he was interviewed he told police that he had been having a mental breakdown and he threw himself in front of the car to kill himself.”

The court heard that Brewer had also contemplated cutting his own throat earlier in the day and had problems with drugs and alcohol. It also heard that the collision had left a large dent in the side of the vehicle.

“Once it hit him that this was another member of the public he is genuinely remorseful,” said Steve Brint, mitigating.

Brewer admitted causing criminal damage and failing to attend an earlier hearing and was given a 12-month community order to include 10 rehabilitation days and an alcohol treatment programme. He was also ordered to pay £672 in compensation, but all costs and charges were wavered.

Sentencing, District Judge Andrew Davison said: “He says he tried to cut his own throat earlier in the day and then jumped into the vehicle.

“Some of your problems are self inflicted. You are taking spice, which isn’t going to help - neither is cannabis or alcohol. This offence was clearly committed out of desperation because you felt unloved and unsupported by your own family.”